White House says news anti-Russia sanctions are on the horizon

The threat of new sanctions against Russia over its position on Ukraine is still on the table, an assistant to the US president and a US deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting said.

Should the Ukrainian crisis escalate further, the consequences will be harsher for Russia's economy, Ben Rhodes told journalists on Friday when asked if the United States will call on its allies to impose additional penalties against Moscow.

Rhodes told the press of US President Barack Obama's upcoming European tour plans and stressed that the Ukrainian crisis will be the focus of the trip, which will be made to Poland, Belgium and France in June. In particular, the issue will be discussed at a G7 summit on June 4-5 in Brussels.